Abstract: An apparatus for directional acoustic sensing may include a wearable dimensioned to be donned by a user of an artificial reality system. The wearable may include a signal generator that propagates an acoustic wave via a body of the user toward a specific body part. The wearable may also include an acoustic sensor that detects an acoustic reflection of the acoustic wave propagated by the signal generator. The wearable may further include at least one processing device that is communicatively coupled to the acoustic sensor. The processing device may determine that the specific body part has made physical contact with an object based at least in part on the acoustic reflection. In response, the processing device may generate an input command for the artificial reality system that accounts for the specific body part making physical contact with the object. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for providing imagery to a user on a display includes receiving eye tracking data. The method also includes determining a gaze location on the display and at least one of a confidence factor of the gaze location, or a speed of the change of the gaze location using the eye tracking data. The method also includes establishing multiple tiles using the gaze location and at least one of the confidence factor or the speed of the change of the gaze location. The method also includes providing a foveated rendered image using the multiple tiles.

Abstract: A transparent optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a control system operably coupled to at least one of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode and adapted to provide a drive signal to actuate the electroactive layer within an aperture of the transparent optical element.

Abstract: A manufacturing system performs a deposition of an etch-compatible film over a substrate. The etch-compatible film includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The manufacturing system performs a partial removal of the etch-compatible film to create a surface profile on the first surface with a plurality of etch heights relative to the substrate. The manufacturing system performs a lithographic patterning of a photoresist deposited over the created profile in the etch-compatible film to obtain the plurality of etch heights and one or more duty cycles corresponding to the etch-compatible film deposited over the substrate.

Abstract: The present technology relates to artificial reality systems. Such systems provide projections a user can create to specify object interactions. For example, when a user wishes to interact with an object outside her immediate reach, she can use a projection to select, move, or otherwise interact with the distant object. The present technology also includes object selection techniques for identifying and disambiguating between objects, allowing a user to select objects both near and distant from the user. Yet further aspects of the present technology include techniques for interpreting various bimanual (two-handed) gestures for interacting with objects. The present technology further includes a model for differentiating between global and local modes for, e.g., providing different input modalities or interpretations of user gestures.

Abstract: A method for transferring an image to a subpixel array may include generating a set of subframes in which each subframe contains a fraction of the range of intensities of the image. The bit-depth of the subframes may be reduced from the bit-depth of the image. The computer-implemented method may include (1) receiving image data for an image including a set of intensities in one or more channels, (2) processing the image data into subframe data for a plurality of subframes, each subframe including a fractional range of intensities that are a subset of the set of intensities of the image, and (3) temporally multiplexing the plurality of subframes generated from the subframe data to reconstitute the image in a viewing region using an optical system having a light deviator that laterally shifts light from an emissive array. Various other apparatus, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes accessing a first rendered frame generated based on a first viewing direction of a user. The first rendered frame may be generated at a first frame rate. The method includes generating, based on the first rendered frame, one or more sub-frames at a second frame rate that is higher than the first frame rate. A first sub-frame of the one or more sub-frames is generated by determining a second viewing direction of the user based on sensor data and applying one or more transformations to the first frame based on the second viewing direction. The method includes outputting the one or more sub-frames for display at the second frame rate.

Abstract: The disclosed system may include (1) a light projector with multiple pixels, (2) a waveguide optically coupled to the light projector, where the waveguide is configured to in-couple light from the light projector and out-couple the in-coupled light toward an eyebox of the system, (3) a light detector that is configured to receive light from the light projector, and (4) a controller that (a) causes the light projector to project light from at least one of the multiple pixels, (b) receives information from the light detector based on light received from the at least one of the multiple pixels, and (c) causes an alteration in an alignment of the light from the light projector relative to the optical waveguide based on the information. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A varifocal optical assembly includes a plurality of optical elements configured to transmit light in successive optical stages. Each respective optical stage of the successive optical stages includes at least one respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements and is configurable to be in one of a first state and a second state. The respective optical stage in the first state has a first respective optical power for light of a first polarization and a second respective optical power for light of a second polarization. The respective optical stage in the second state has a third optical power for light of the first polarization and a fourth optical power for light of the second polarization. The optical power of varifocal optical assembly is adjustable by changing the states of one or more of the successive optical stages.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a substrate transparent to visible light and a projector configured to generate display light for an image, where the display light includes display light for a first field of view (FOV) of the image and display light for a second FOV of the image. The waveguide display also includes a first input coupler configured to couple the display light for the first FOV into the substrate, a first set of gratings configured to couple the display light for the first FOV out of the substrate at a first two-dimensional array of locations of the substrate, a second input coupler configured to couple the display light for the second FOV into the substrate, and a second set of gratings configured to couple the display light for the second FOV out of the substrate at a second two-dimensional array of locations of the substrate.

Abstract: An optical system includes an optical waveguide, a micro light emitting diode (micro-LED) configured to emit at least partially polarized light, and a waveguide coupler configured to couple the at least partially polarized light from the micro-LED into the optical waveguide with a coupling efficiency higher than a coupling efficiency of the waveguide coupler for unpolarized light. The micro-LED includes a substrate including a hexagonal lattice and having a first surface parallel to a semi-polar plane of the hexagonal lattice, and a plurality of layers grown on the first surface. The plurality of layers includes an active layer that includes a III-nitride material and has a top surface parallel to the semi-polar plane and the first surface of the substrate, such that the light emitted by the micro-LED is at least partially polarized and can be more efficiently coupled into the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A liquid lens architecture includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based membrane overlying at least a portion of the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane-based membrane. The TPU-based membrane may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 2% and is configured to limit the transpiration of fluid to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a nano-sized structure in a resin element by nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The method reduces adhesive failure during NIL demolding by inhibiting polymerization at the interface between the resin element and the template. The template includes a polymerization inhibiting compound. The method includes pressing the template onto the resin element (or the resin element onto the template) to form the nano-sized structure in the resin element. The method also including diffusing the polymerization inhibiting compound from the template to the resin element, e.g., by holding them together for a period of time. A layer of the polymerization inhibiting compound is therefore formed at an interface of the template and resin element. The polymerization inhibiting compound inhibits polymerization at the interface. After the diffusion, the resin element is cured. Then the template is removed from the resin element.

Abstract: A near eye display (NED) includes an electronic display configured to output image light. Further, the NED includes an eye tracking module and multiple optical elements that are combined to form an optical system to allow for changes in position of one or both eyes of a user of the NED. Various types of such optical elements, which may have optical states that are switchable, may be used to steer a light beam toward the user's eye. A direction of the steering may be based on eye tracking information measured by the eye tracking module.

Abstract: A virtual space configuration system of an artificial reality system can detect a user posture and provide various corresponding customizations of the system's virtual space. The virtual space configuration system can, when a user is in a seated posture, provide for seated virtual space customizations. In various implementations, these customizations can include allowing adjustment of a floor height; setting a flag that can be surfaced to applications to adjust the applications' mechanics for seated users; customizing display of virtual space boundaries when in seated mode to be less intrusive; providing options to detect when a user leaves seated mode and trigger corresponding actions; provide a passthrough workspace area allowing a user to interact with certain real-world objects naturally without having to remove a virtual reality headset; or automatically determining virtual space dimensions for seated users.

Abstract: A disclosed computer-implemented method may include directing an illumination source, positioned at a predetermined position relative to an event camera positioned to receive light from the illumination source reflected by a portion of a cornea of a user during an illumination sequence, to illuminate the portion of the cornea of the user in accordance with the illumination sequence. The method may also include detecting, via the event camera, a set of events, each event in the set of events comprising a change in an intensity of light from the illumination source received by a pixel included in the event camera over a sampling period of the event camera. The method may further include determining a shape of the portion of the cornea of the user based on the predetermined position, the illumination sequence, and the set of events. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating haptic simulations is provided. The apparatus includes a body that defines an inner cavity, and a pair of connectors positioned adjacent to ends of the body. A wire electrically connects the connectors and is wound around a first portion of the body in a first direction and wound around a second portion of the body in an opposite direction. A ring magnet is secured to an outer surface of the body. An armature magnet is slidably positioned within the inner cavity aligned with the ring magnet due to its magnetic pull. When a current is driven through the wire, simultaneous push and pull forces are created, causing the armature magnet to oscillate within the inner cavity to create vibration. When a magnitude of the current driven exceeds a threshold, the armature magnet impacts a stop of the inner cavity to create a “click” stimulation.

Abstract: A haptic device includes a network of motorized shear actuators. The shear actuators each include a drive mechanism and a lead screw having a threaded outer surface rotatably coupled to the drive mechanism and extending along a primary axis. A carriage is movably coupled to the lead screw by a nut having a threaded inner surface and is disposed within a chassis. One or more flexure springs are attached to the chassis and are configured to exert a reactive force to resist a force applied to the carriage in a direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the primary axis. The flexure springs may cooperate with a stop mechanism to improve the mechanical robustness of the shear actuators under applied loads.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes segmenting a layout of a physical space surrounding a user into physical segments; generating, based on the physical segments, virtual paths for a virtual environment through which the user can navigate by traveling the physical segments; identifying, based on a current location of the user with respect to the physical space, a portion of the physical segments for which to enable an intrusion detection feature; detecting a physical object in the portion of the physical segments that corresponds to a particular virtual path of the virtual paths; and in response to the detecting, displaying a representation of the physical object in the particular virtual path.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes starting an application as a first process within a user space of an operating system. The application instantiates a key-value store and a file system associated with the operating system. The method also includes managing, by a block device service running within the user space, one or more first data blocks of a persistent storage allocated to the key value store and one or more second data blocks of the persistent storage allocated to the file system. In addition, the method includes receiving, by a kernel of the operating system, a system call request comprising an access request generated by the key-value store or the file system. The method further includes granting, by the block device service, and in response to the access request, the key value store or the file system access to the one or more first or second data blocks.